High Lord Klanak tapped his lacquered fingernails impatiently as the da'covale filled his cup of kaf. This morning was not going the way he wanted, and if it had he would not be waiting on this meeting. He had spent an exorbitant amount of money on these assassins, some of the best in Seanchan, so good that according to rumor, the Empress, may she live forever, had personally hired them to take care of one of her sisters back before she was even known as the Daughter of the Nine Moons.
He winced, even in his mind, guilt flashing for thinking of the Empress before she had been raised to her current position, something forbidden to ever be spoken of aloud. He was broken from his circling thoughts by a drop of the burning kaf falling on his hand. Not on his skin, which would have been painful but a forgivable mistake, but on his lacquered fingernail. He watched in horror as the sizzling drop of burning liquid ate through a spot of the lacquering and left a bare spot. He looked up sharply, where the da'covale was already cringing. Good, as she should. "You will be go to Largen the moment you are done pouring for everyone, do you understand me?" he said in a quiet voice. The girl nodded hurriedly, fear in her posture as she scurried to the other side of the room to finish filling cups. Largen was his Voice, but he also doubled as Klanak's torturer and punisher. It may not have been strictly proper, but Klanak liked to be able to serve multiple purposes at once.
"Really, Klanak," said High Lady Alifar as she sipped her wine, a hint of condescension touching her tone, "I don't know why you let your Voice do your punishments for you. It's so rewarding to do it yourself." She grinned at that, a touch of heated pleasure entering her eyes.
"Oh, will you get yourself together, Alifara?" snapped Durgin, who was sitting to her right. "We aren't here to discuss how to punish da'covale," A pause as her eyes swung to him, brown eyes glaring hard from her honey-colored face and she raised an eyebrow at him "Actually, what are we here for, Klanak?"
Galgan strode in, looking bemused as he settled down in his chair, blue eyes flicking around to take in the five others, including Klanak, as he waved for a cup in front of him to be filled with kaf. His blue eyes looked amused, and his head was completely shaved, as he adjusted in his seat. "Probably because his little assassins failed last night to kill the Raven Prince."
Oh yes, that was definitely amusement in that gaze as everyone around him stiffened suddenly. "What?" Asked Perlif, his eyes wide, tugging at his large grey mustache as he spoke.
"Is anyone really surprised?" asked Galgan as he placed the cup back down on the table, raising an eyebrow at the assembled High Blood. "He has defeated every other assassin we sent for him, why would this be any different?"
"Because this was the Belati group!" snapped Durgine, still glaring at Klanak. "They were the best assassins in Seandar, and we pooled our resources together to pay them a substantial sum." Something seemed to occur to her then, and she glanced at Galgan. "How did you come to know of this already? It is not even noon."
"Oh, the Prince was complaining about it to anyone who would listen this morning." Galgan hid a smile behind his cup, but left it low enough that everyone would clearly see anyway. "He was quite put out about the whole incident. Apparently Jonara had a bad dream and went to sleep with her father, and was in his bed when the assassins attacked. He is quite angry over the whole incident, and has sworn in quite the colorful fashion exactly what he would do when he found the people that endangered his daughter."
Klanak felt his hands tighten on the cup involuntarily, as he froze. Carefully, very carefully, he put down the cup which now had noticeable finger marks in it and stood up, clasping his hands behind his back to keep them from shaking as he turned and stared out over the ocean below. The rippling waves had always calmed him to watch, and he inhaled deeply the smell of salt as his hair rustled in the breeze. "I think it is time for us to play our hand, my friends." He heard muttering from behind him, but he didn't turn to look at them. "Assassin after assassin has failed to kill him, and every one he beats his reputation grows, and his influence. If it continues like this, the Empress, may she live forever, might actually accept his fool proposal about freeing the damane from the a'dam. This can not be allowed. It would mean another breaking of the world if those creatures were allowed to run free."
"I do not approve of his proposal to be sure, but what you are proposing is very different then sending assassins, Klanak. Sending assassins is a long and strong tradition, it helps test the Prince of Ravens. After all, what is the point of a weak Prince? But what you are proposing is not a fair test. The only purpose is to remove the Prince."
Klanak spun and pointed a hand at Galgan, who looked very disturbed. "What would you have us do, Galgan? Break the a'dams and use this binding rod, which is probably a trick of these Aes Sedai?" His tongue tripped over the unfamiliar words, and he felt revulsion twist his features. Women who can channel who ruled the other side of the ocean, and wielded their power with no guidance? It was enough to make any man's bowels loosen.
"It is not a trick, and you know it, Klanak." Galgan said as he stood up, glaring right back. "The testing of the former Aes Sedai has been extensive, and by Fortuona herself." He paused to let that hang in the air, a not so subtle reminder that he was of the Imperial Family now and therefore higher than them. "This binding rod is a viable option and I have half a mind to support the Prince in his endeavor. And it would also double our damane, if the rumors that the Suldam are ones who can be taught to channel are true, which I am inclined to believe."
"Then why are you even here?" snapped Durgin, becoming flushed as she stood up as well. She was not an official Suldam, but she did enjoy training damane from time to time, and she had likely heard the rumors. Something Klanak would need to exploit if she got too out of line.
Galgan pursed his lips and took a second to answer. When he did, he did it slowly and with great care. "While the military side of me agrees with the Prince on his proposals, the other side of me worries about how much influence he has with our Empress, may she live forever. I fear he is too powerful."
Alifar let out a little laugh. "In other words, dear Galgan, you are still put out he was elevated above you at the Fields of Merrilor and then once more once you returned home to stop the civil war."
Galgan did not reply, and that in and of itself was a reply. Klanak took the opportunity to regain control of the conversation before it could be diverted any further. "All in favor of activating the contingency plan, raise your hand." He had his up before he had even finished speaking the words, and watched with anxiety, carefully controlled anxiety, to the others. Durgin was the second to put her hand up, no surprise there, and then Perlif and Troget, the latter who had been so quiet that Klanak had almost forgotten he was there. He felt his shoulder blades relax as he looked at Galgan and Alifar. It did not matter if they voted yes, because he had the majority vote now. But he still wished that they would, for no other reason than unamity would ensure they all went down together if they failed. He met Alifar's eyes, and he watched as she calculated and weighed possibilities. She put on the airs of a flighty woman who was directed by her whims and fancies more than reason. Of course, if that had been true then she would never have been invited to these secret gatherings in the first place. Long seconds passed as she smiled to herself and finally raised her hand. All eyes swung to Galgan, who stood looking out of the balcony to the ocean.
"Well, dear?" asked Alifar, actually daring to lay a hand on his shoulder. Without a word, he spun and strode out of the room, letting the door swing shut behind him.
"Will he betray us?" asked Perlif, tugging at his mustaches again with worry.
"No, he knows it is a death sentence just as much for him as it would be for us," Durgin said with confidence, confidence that Klanak did not personally feel.
"Very well," said Klanak as everyone began to stand up and make their way to the doors. "I shall activate the contingency plan. By tonight, we shall know if it worked. If it did not, I… suggest you flee."